Reader's View: SSHA board needs an action plan

The New York state comptroller's long-awaited audit report on the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority (SSHA) has been released and brings to light many disturbing issues.

In summation, the report concludes that over the past several years, the board of directors has not provided the proper oversight and suggests steps to be taken to resolve these issues. The only way these issues will be resolved is by the old board members changing the current culture of the organization.

The results of the audit report clearly show the board has not done its basic function of overseeing the finances of the organization. The report also finds that there was more than $11,689 of "questionable" expenses by staff and board members related to training conferences. This and other issues must be addressed.

In the short time Commissioner Callucci and I have been on the board, we have achieved some progress in making the board more accountable and open to the residents and taxpayers. This progress, however, has been met with stiff resistance at every step.

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The tenured board members believe there are no problems with the SSHA and therefore no changes are needed. This attitude was illustrated in Board Chairman Weller's response to the audit that he wrote and sent to the state comptroller.

In the cover letter of the response to the audit signed by Mr. Weller, he states, "Enclosed is the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority's Board-approved response to the draft audit received September 17, 2012." This statement is just not true. The board never met or voted on a response. In fact, I did not even know that it was written until two weeks after it was sent to the comptroller.

In his recent press conference, Chairman Weller reiterated his position that many of the comptroller's findings are invalid and that the board will not comply with a number of items. Let me restate for the record that this was not a board decision. No board meeting was held to discuss this, let alone vote for it. In addition, I do not agree with Chairman Weller's opinion.

The board is still dominated by tenured members who are responsible for the position in which this organization now finds itself. It is obvious by their response to the audit and by Mr. Weller's comments that they do not plan on taking any other action on this matter and it will be back to business as usual.

The mayor appointed Commissioner Callucci and myself to bring some sanity to this organization. In addition, the mayor asked the state comptroller for this audit to find any irregularities. Well, irregularities have been found. But the older board members are refusing to take the steps needed to correct these problems.

Therefore, I formally ask tenured members of the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority Board of Commissioners to meet in public and formally create an action plan that truly addresses all the issues brought forth in the audit and then follow the law and seek the approval of the City Council on the current salaries.

This appears to be the only way we can make real progress for the interests of the residents and taxpayers. Short of this action, will mean that it is business-as-usual at the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority and that would be unfortunate.